Friday, December 18, 2009

WWW, December 18 2009 - Heartical and Soulfull UK DUB and Roots in one of it's purest forms: Dubdadda knows what he's doing: after all, he's been doing it for a long time. Give Love is a massive Steppers that will appeal to you when you're into UK DUB and ROOTS and why should you not be?

Friday, December 11, 2009

WWW, December 2009 - If only because of African Anthem alone this album should be considered a clasic, but the fact that this is the Deluxe edition makes this another must-have for every self-respecting collector of the better (DUB) Reggae music.

The subtitle of this album is not there for nothing: especially in the first ten titles, the original African Anthem album, it's jingles and soundeffects galore. This is indeed The Mikey Dread Show avant la lettre, as the album should really be played from start to finish and the jingles gives us the idea that we're listening to one of the best Radio Stations in the universe.

As said: the original release only contained the first ten titles. This release comes with 5 bonus track, among which an extended version of JBC Days/Proper Education Version and some more heavyweight material by the man we will never forget: Michael "Dread At The Controls" Campbell aka Mikey Dread.

There are three titles from this album avaialbe for free and legal download straight from their Dubroom MP3 download pages. Click on the titles to visit them.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

MIKEY DREAD - DREAD AT THE CONTROLS/EVOLUTIONARY ROCKERSDUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW

WWW, December 2009 - Together with some crucial DUB versions, this 2005 two-albums-on-one-disc release contains the original 1979 Mikey Dread debut releases all mixed in King Tubby's Waterhouse Studio.

It wasn't until Mikey Dread gained control over his own productions that his debut album "Evolutionary Rockers" was available on the digital market. That's over one quarter of a century in which the material was only available through collector's and traders' channels.

Quite some material, especially when you consider that there's a DUB version of most of the vocal tracks on the album. Containing classics like "Barber Saloon" and "Propper Education" (available for free and legal MP3 download on the Dubroom, just click on the links) in their extended version, the album captures Mikey Dread as he is still focused on Toasting ("Reggae Rapping") during these his early days.

None less than seventeen outstanding tracks on one disc: you just cannot miss out on this one, when you like Roots Rockers Reggae and Dub and Toasting and King Tubby and an all-star Band, in short unless you hate Reggae with every bone in your body, you will simply have to have this one.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

WWW, December 2009 - Michael "Dread at the Controls" Campbell left us in March 2008, but his website is still online and can, no, should be visited by everyone interested in Reggae History.

Mikey Dread is much more than "just" a Jamaican Reggae artist with a history, even though that in itself is a reason alone to check out what his official website has to say about him.

Michael "Dread At The Controls" Campbell started in the 1970's as the first Reggae Radio DJ for Jamaican Radio. You can listen to it, when you visit the site: MIKEYDREAD.com contains an MP3 File with a sample from one of his early Radio shows (RIGHT-CLICK TO DOWNLOAD), introduced by Mikey himself. More history can be found at the site, as Mikey Dread talks about his works with Punk-Rock band The Clash (RIGHT-CLICK TO DOWNLOAD), among many more things.

In a very nice application on the site, you can make your own Mikey Dread tune as you add jingles and effects over Mikey Dread riddims. Filled with niceness for the ear and eye, the app will give you some fun fe true. CLICK

MIKEYDREAD.com also contains quite a number of free MP3's, of which tunes like "Dread at the Mantrols" and "12 Tribe Stylee" are just two examples. CLICK

In the press/promotion area, there's many PDF's and JPG's. Mikey Dread's official Biography, a lot of reviews and interviews, even a stage plan can be seen. CLICK

Mikey Dread re-gained control over his releases, after which he made them all available via his website and some other means. The website remains to be the predominant place to go to purchase Mikey Dread's music. All tunes can be previewed straight from the site. CLICK

MIKEYDREAD.com, therefore, should not remain unvisited by anyone who (claims to) love (DUB) Reggae Music. History, Niceness, Music, everything is there and presented in a way that is worthy of the one and only REAL MIKEY DREAD.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

WWW, November 24 2009 - Featuring Original Skatalites member Tommy Mc Cook: this instrumental will bring back memories to one, good vibes to another, and an introduction to Reggae to lovers of Jazz and other swinging styles of music.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

WWW, November 2009 - The lyrics were written in 1967, sung by Lynette, and according to Jah Free they represent his "views on work and bosses and the system". In other words: Jah Free chanting down Babylon while calling upon Jah Rastafari and Dubroom readers/visitors know: Consciousness is more than appreciloved: it is recognized!

Friday, October 16, 2009

WWW, October 2009 - This is more than just a slice of UK Toast, even though it is: taken from the upcoming album "Walk Like A Rasta", a Reality Shock Records release, this Net Single features Solo Banton's impressive fast chat style and a Dub from the riddim by none other than Conscious Sound's Dougie Wardrop!

And there's more: producers and singers will want to read on as you are invited to create your own tune around Solo Banton's voice or voice your own thing over the Dub and win some very interesting prizes!

Described by the label as a "a much requested 'Casio Style' Digital Killer", the riddim is pumping and definitely has that 1980's vibe with the "orchestra hit" Sound FX that was so common in these early digital days, when the Casio keyboard entered into the studio's.

Solo Banton's fast lyrical work is, unlike one would maybe think when they hear about fast chat, not difficult to understand. The control that he has over his voice is kind of remarkable, and the fact that this is just one tune from an album makes us want to have more a dat fe true!

The Zip file is not just a Net Single that people who love to listen to Reggae and especially UK DUB and Roots will want to download, though.

There's something very interesting for the (online) artists and producers attached to this free October 2009 release, which is the reason why you find a third MP3, next to the vocal and the fine Dub by Dougie Wardrop at Conscious Sounds Studio.

It's the "a capella version", and it's there for a reason that goes beyond serving those that may want to hear the lyrics without the music. The reason has a name and it's the brand newly launched REGGAE GOT TALENT COMPETITION 2009.

Until November 30th, producers are invited to build a tune around Solo Banton's vocal recording. Vocalists are asked to voice over the Dub coming with this package, and Sound Systems can make a 20 minute mix of any kind which includes the vocal and/or the Dub.

All entries will be judged by an impressive jury of Earl 16, Afrikan Simba and Conscious Sounds' very own Dougie Wardrop. At December 14, they will announce the winners in each category.

Winners who will really win something!

Let's just mention the main prices: Solo Banton will voice over any riddim that the winning producer would like him to voice over, when you're the winning vocalist your voice will feature on exclusive material from Conscious Sounds Studio, and when you're the winning Sound System, Solo Banton will voice a Dub Plate for you.

Be quick, be fast, download the Net Single and start enjoying the music passively or actively. All the necessary information is available in the Zip File.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

WWW, October 2009 - The year is 1978. The Voice of Thunder meets up with BBC Radio DJ John Peel to record Prince Far I's contribution to what has become one of the largest musical recording series in the history of the British public channel.

It leads to far for this review to describe just who John Peel was, but a few words should be said about him. He promoted up and coming artists in a special way: they were invited in the Studio for a semi live version which would then be recorded and played on the BBC airwaves.

John Peel loved Reggae and invited several artists in his studio, among which Misty In Roots and also Prince Far I. The Voice of Thunder took a couple of musicians with him and they laid down a very heavy Roots session in ways that he did not sound on all his other albums.

Some really crucial bass play in "The Dream", an impressive spoken introduction without music, just two special parts of this special album. Ruffer than Ruff, Tuffer than Tuff.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

WWW, September 2009 - WWW, September 2009 - It's just a piece of niceness from this UK based Dub Collective: a virtual 7" with a couple of vocal samples, a synth bass, a cool riddim section and some Ire Dub mixing on top of it.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

WWW, September 2009 - When the Skatalites recorded their tunes for Coxsone Dodd's Studio One in the 1960's, they were already veteran musicians in the Jamaican Music scene and have been ever since, even though they've split up for a while.

Although he is known world-wide for his world hit "Cokane In My Brain", this did not represent the Roots Rockers material this heavy DJ would usually chant over. Tunes like "Marijuana In My Brain", for example, which gave him a number one hit in the Netherlands.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

WWW, September 17 2009 - This one might not be as well-known as Gregory's classic "Night Nurse", but "I Care" surely will bring up memories for one and vibes to the other. Gregory Isaacs as the Cool Ruler of Lover's Rock fe true!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

WWW, September 2009 - This surprisingly creative album by the Brazilian Buguinha Dub is filled with intermezzo's, sound clips and effects. All of that on top of some very interesting drum and basslines.

Drum and Basslines, plus all kinds of instruments. From saxophone solo's to violins, just think of it and it's used somewhere in this joyful Dub album, of which many -not all- of the riddims are played in traditional Roots Reggae style.

The South American vibe is present from the top to the very last drop, where the remarkably creativeness of the Dub Engineer comes to view in every moment of the album as well. Buguinha Dub is a Dub Engineer in his daily life, where he doesn't mind working live or in the studio.

For this album, he gathered some of the best musicians around to play a variety of beats of which, as said, many are played in Roots Reggae style. The vibe in the studio was set to have the musicians improvise as much as they could, after which the recordings were transformed to this surprisingly interesting DUB Album.

Friday, September 11, 2009

WWW, September 2009 - With tracks like "Kum Out", several mixes of "Welcome To Canada", Lady Shelly's free MP3 Album gives a good representation of her past and presence as more-than-conscious Dancehall vocalist.

Lady Shelly's story is more than interesting: after moving to Montreal (Quebec) from Jamaica, she became a signed recording artist for a number of Dance labels, scored several hits and even received a golden plaque. A few years followed wherein she traveled to and from Jamaica, bringing her to the decision that she now was going to use her talents to spread Consciousness in the Dance.

In Montreal, she recorded "Welcome In Canada" (track 14). It's a Rub a Dub tune, which drew the attention of Dean Fraser. He made her decide to permanently move back to Jamaica and work on building her Dancehall career.

And she did.

KARAMANTI MIX VOLUME ONE _ RESURRECTION is an 18 track presentation of some really hard hitting Dancehall music. Ten tracks are new, by the way. Lady Shelly shows her talents on several styles, but they all have that militant and conscious element lacking in so many other Dancehall productions.

She addresses current situations in Jamaica (Bruce Golding, No Gully No Gaza), domestic violence (Kum Out) and the way Jamaicans are treated in Canada (Welcome In Canada). Her faith in Jah keeps her going on and she will not go astray from Him (Naa Do It), but she also sings about good vibes (Party Tonight).

Lady Shelly's message is clear, and it gets even more clear on her website where we can find the story behind most of the tracks and herself. She is a hard working, even struggling artist whose refusal to walk in the ways of the wicked doesn't make things easier.

How easy is it, to be a female vocalist and you find out that one producer is more interested in punany than in the musical talents? How hard is it, to know that this producer is no exception? We feel it directly in the music and lyrics of this more-than-conscious Dancehall artist.

Download the album, check out her website for remixes and some instrumentals or even a capella recordings, read up her poetry and news items and know why Dancehall Music would not survive without sistren like Lady Shelly.

The mainstream might choose to ignore her, but the conscious online massive will not.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

WWW, September 2009 - From Shaggy and Elephant Man to Mykal Rose and Collie Budz, they've all voiced dub plates and other mixes for the Scandinavian Raggabalder Riddim Rebels. Heavy Dancehall that you don't want to miss out.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

WWW, September 2009 - Morgan Heritage, George Nooks, Capleton, Luciano, Queen Ifrica: "just" a few names of crucial vocalists riding riddims produced by the Upliftment International Sound System, in a mega mix released by the Germaica Label.

Friday, September 4, 2009

WWW, September 2009 - In 1 hour and 20 minutes, we're introduced to a number of riddims by the German Upliftment Sound System, voiced and mixed in fine style to give pure niceness to the worldwide Roots and Dancehall Massive.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

WWW, August 2009 - One thousand free, legal MP3 Downloads, to be chosen out of a catalogue with names ranging from Yami Bolo to Bob Marley to Prince Alla to U Roy? The Dubroom took a look into the claims of EZTRACKS.com and came back with a surprising report.

First of all: it's true. Just by registering with an e-mail address and filling in a phone number (note the "a"), you can get access to the giant catalogue of EZTRACKS.com among which a surprising selection of Reggae Music.

The Canadian website is part of Traffix Inc, an "interactive media company", based in New York. In 2007, the company acquired the exclusive rights for 10 years with an option for another 5 years. Mr. Jeffrey Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of Traffix, had this to say about it:

"The exclusive nature of this licensing relationship enhances it even further. It's not hard to find unauthorized songs for free, but to distribute songs for free that are licensed for download is a rarity, indeed. We believe that this arrangement will solidify our position as the largest free fully licensed music download marketing business in the world" SOURCE

So, until 2017, potentially, we've found a very interesting website here.

The registration process is easy, even though a bit confusing. After you've filled in your e-mail address, you're directed to a page that at first look screams: DO NOT GO FURTHER!

What's the case?

Unless you click on the link on top of the page which says something like "I'm not interested, give me something else" for about 5 subsequent times, you will not land on the registration page where you simply have to fill in your information, including a phone number. That fortunately does not have to be your own phone number, otherwise this article would never have been written.

At least, not in this way.

For after the registration process, you are indeed given access to a 1000 free downloads from a rather extensive catalogue of music. No, not necessarily Reggae and/or Dub, but we stick with our own realm of expertise.

Not all tracks are downloadable straight from the website, though. A huge portion is only "available through our partners at Kazaa". For which you have to pay, of course. Then there is the thing that a lot of titles on the site are actually cover versions by a band called "Countdown", which is not really obviously announced. There's even a set of karaoke tunes which you don't even want to hear!

In order to help you keeping the experience free and make sure you only download the nice ones, the Dubroom started a portal to EZ Tracks HERE.

Basically, there are two ways to download a track. If you choose so, you can download the EZ Tracks Music Manager. You will unfortunately be offered to do so, when you download a track. When you don't like this, just click on the link at the bottom of the page to download the MP3 without their download software. That is, after you've cancelled the offered download of the music manager.

All that trouble, is it worth it?

When you're interested in a 1000 free and legal (DUB) Reggae MP3 downloads, definitely so. However, since a lot of collectors might already have many tracks in the EZ Tracks catalogue, it might be fruitful to take a look at the DUBROOM EZ TRACKS PORTAL before visiting the website itself.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - In the year 1987, Rub a Dub Music was still very much the style of the time, even though we already had the Sleng Teng revolution.

Six outstanding discomixes, sung by one of the most heartical Reggae singers of all time. Another Don Carlos showcase album you simply can't refuse even though the album seems to be out of print.

Prophecy contains a number of truly heartfelt titles. Crucial Situation, Prophecy, and the more than penetrating Jah Hear My Plea are reasons alone to try and purchase this album, if you can still find it.

The message is crucial, and the way Don Carlos sings the message makes it impossible to not be touched in one way or another. Especially the fact that there's some DUB niceness in the second part of each track (after all, it's a showcase album) enhances the vibe of the tunes significantly.

Originally, the vinyl album was released in 1987. That was a time wherein Rub a Dub was slowly being replaced with ragga/dancehall as the popular music in Jamaica. Nothing of that on this one, though. This is played by a band, mixed crucially and of course accompanied by the great voice of one of the original singers of Black Uhuru.

There's a thing, though...

Indeed, the album seems to be out of print and that means you got to look for it. If you're living in the US, though, you can get the MP3's of this document of Rub a Dub niceness for a few cents.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - Entitled "Heartbreaker", we would have loved to be the title of this podcast to be less appropriate. It's sad to hear Mikey Dread presenting us yet another hour of crucial Reggae Music, knowing that he's left us way too soon.

Michael "Dread At The Controls" Campbell has done a lot for Reggae Music, and he keeps doing so even after he recently left us. This podcast is just one part of his legacy. Mikey Dread brings us a truly crucial selection, presenting them in his own style, forming a one hour Reggae experience for free.

Freddie Mc Gregor is richly present in the playlist. From the Abyssinians and Culture to Garnet Silk to Luciano, we're treated with a variety of singers and harmony groups from several times.

So, even though is surely breaks the heart to realize how Mikey Dread is no longer with us: Just Ire, Just Niceness, seen?

WWW, June 2009 - Originally, the vinyl album had 6 extended tunes, but the CD version goes to no less than ten long, great Rub a Dub discomixes from the 1980's.

Sure, it's a rare album and that means it cost a thing on the second hand market.

Not for nothing, though.

Don Carlos was one of the original members of the vocal group Black Uhuru, before Michael Rose and others took over and put the name of Black Uhuru on the World Wide Reggae Map. The Don's voice sounds in no way similar to that of Michael Rose, however.

Don Carlos is surely one of the sweetest singers in Reggae. His melodies contain many licks and hooks which are extremely difficult to do for a vocalist. He is extremely talented, which shows on the album in a very special way.

It doesn't matter whether the Don sings a lovers lyrics or a conscious meditation, every time he opens his mouth in front of the studio microphone, he makes something special of the tune. This shows on this album, where he sings over some really crucial riddims and everything is mixed almost perfect.

Most of the ten tunes are sung by Don Carlos, and all of them are followed by a crucial DUB. Noteworthy titles include the Abyssinians' "Declaration Of Rights", and the title track of course.

Definitely worth a listen, definitely worth considering as a purchase even though you might have to go to a second hand store or whatever.

Monday, June 15, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - This album contains eight more than superb titles from this relatively unknown Jamaican vocal harmony group.

And that's not all: they all come with a more than outstanding DUB counterpart, in an all-killer-no-filler kind of quality.

"Africa Shall Stretch Forth Her Hands": Highly Recommended!

Noel "Bunny" Brown was already a veteran in the late 1970's, when the tunes on this album were released. He had been recording since the early 1960's, and had released a tune called "Bachelor Boy" under the name of "Noel and the Wild Cats".

He founded The Mighty Three's (aka Mighty 3) with Carlton Gregory and Bernard Brown, of which we find the main work on this album. It's a superb album in every aspect you can think of: the production, the music, the mixing, the singing.

The Mighty Three's have a way of touching you straight in the heart with Rasta chants, psalms, and meditations. From the opening vocal to the last dub, this album will keep you in a good vibe all the way.

It's just too bad, that there is so little material of this wonderful vocal harmony group. In that sense, they're like the Abyssinians who too were known for their heartfelt spiritual vocal works. Perhaps it has to be like that....

Nevertheless, there really is nothing bad to say about this album, other than the choice of sequence. Now you have to program the CD player before you can listen to the vocal and the dub of every title rather than first all the vocal tracks and then all the dubs.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Even Lee Perry's voice drops in, when the two engineers meet at the Dub Table in Ariwa Studio's. The riddims are varied, some are mixed crucially where others might very well be filed into the "Reggae Instrumental" category. Allbeit, that not all tracks are Reggae...

Indeed: It's time for a meet-up of Scientist and the Mad Professor and that means nothing is the way it seems.

Both Scientist and the Mad Professor need no introduction, especially not for the lovers of DUB Music.

King Tubby's protégée may never have been financially compensated for the many things he done behind the mixing board during the 1970's and onward, but that doesn't take away he did it nevertheless. The legendary Greensleeves series based on cartoon and early computer game characters, for example.

The man who started Ariwa Studio's and did his part to keep DUB Alive with his Dub Me Crazy Series keeps on producing and touring the world with his DUB act. The totality of his releases is easily counted with three or perhaps even four figures.

And so, when Scientist and the Mad Professor meet up at the Ariwa Studio's, the expectations are just very, very high. And then it might be a bit of a disappointment to discover that even though there are some precious gems on the album, a couple of riddims would rather fit in the category "Reggae Instrumentals".

Lee Perry's voice is dubbed in and out, not a thing that everyone can apprecilove as well. Sure, snippets here and there, but there are longer parts and then just before you want to skip to the next tune, it's over. Some might love it, and others won't.

A nice album for those that would consider themselves avid collectors of DUB, but it doesn't meet up with the expectations one and ones might have when they see the two names.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

This 11 track album from the year 1993 has it all: Bible Readings, Middle Eastern melodies, and of course the massive drum and basslines we're used to hear from Ariwa Studio's.

Mad Professor rides a number of riddims, gives it different treatments, but all of them contain a healthy combination of programmed and played material.

Towards the end of the 1980's, early 1990's the digital machines had taken strong roots in the studio's on Jamaica and the UK. Dancehall, Ragga, even though DUB was more at the background in the Jamaican Studio's, the technology created new sounds.

We hear some of these sounds in The Lost Scrolls Of Moses. The bass, clearly inspired by the Sleng Teng sound and even details like a snapping finger every now and then give us a Dancehall vibe.

However, the music is unmistakably the UK Roots we're known to receive in our ears almost every time we listen to a Mad Professor production. That sound stands for a quality in itself, which makes you want to collect all of Neil Fraser's albums.

Friday, June 12, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - Brand New, Good For You: at least for us as listeners and searchers for the better online DUB. Antik Things refers to the fact that the five tracks on Dawa Hi-Fi's début EP are produced one or two years ago. Does it matter?

The French label Original DUB Gathering, started by DUB Collective Ondubground, knows how to introduce artists to the online massive. Too bad, the collective have not released any début album on their own label, but with Panda Dub and Dawa Hi-Fi they got some impressive material already.

It's a French Interpretation of UK Dub, and the mix goes well. Dawa Hi-Fi love their steppers, they love to bring out the echo machine on top of some massive drum and basslines and that's just how we, the online DUB Massive, like it to be.

WWW, June 2009 - It's not just, that he is known for his original and creative DUB mixes. A thing, for which he stands at a lonely height when it comes to the Art of DUB.

His originality includes original concepts, too. What about this 16 track collection of superb Dubs from original Lover's Rock tunes produced by Neil Fraser, aka Mad Professor, in his Ariwa Sound Studio's?

One would almost forget it: with the enormous flood of DUB albums coming from Mad Professor's Ariwa studio's, he also releases an equal amount of vocal albums in a wide variety of Reggae styles, and sometimes even beyond.

His upfull Lover's Rock releases, for example. Sweetness galore, but how does this actually sound when Mad Professor creates some DUB mixes from several of his Lover's Rock riddims?

Dub You Crazy With Love obviously gives the answer.

In 16 tracks, the Mad Professor creates a nice atmosphere that will definitely enhance the vibe when two people who love each other decide to be together for a while, without anyone watching. They could just decide to let it go, while the album plays.

Arguably, without too much words, the Lover's Rock is getting into the Love Vibe even more. Do not expect too much spaced out and tripped out parts, do expect an easy chilled out time where some righteous loving is accompanied by some righteous dubbing in several senses of the word.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - Four riddims, five titles: introducing the French based DUB producer Panda DUB. Straight from Lyon, this Dub Stepper comes with some serious Digital Niceness for the DUB Lovers worldwide.

Too bad, that it's just 5 tracks. But hey, Panda Dub's début is definitely promising. A good choice of the French Net Label on which this EP is released. Original DUB Gathering, known from their excellent Step 4 I DUB Compilation series previously reviewed on the Dubroom, definitely put themselves on the growing map of great DUB Net Labels.

French Dub, as this EP clearly shows, is closely related to UK DUB but it has that extra touch. A continental touch if you will, which adds another dimension to the Digital DUB. With that in mind, Panda Dub mixes slices from Techno and House with steppers drum, has an original and creative use of synthesizers et voila!

The year is 1989. Nuff and nuff things are going on in the world as communism seemed to collapse and the last decade of the 20th century is dawning at the horizon.

Mad Professor is working on yet another superb album in his DUB ME CRAZY series. He's been doing it for the last seven years and he's not about to stop either.

From 1982 to 1993, the Mad Professor released twelve albums in the DUB Me Crazy series. They're all reviewed by the Dubroom and not without reason. Not only does the series itself give a perfect overview for the evolution of DUB throughout the 1980's (and a little bit further than that), it has put the Mad Professor at the top of the top of DUB engineers.

In the 9th Chapter, the Mad Professor once again keeps up to his own standards, wherein each and every aspect of the Art of DUB is given the right attention. Subtle effects you might only hear when you're listening on headphones with your ears closed in an Ire vibration, but also hard hitting changes in atmosphere and most of all: a deep, deep bass.

Twelve original Ariwa riddims, several vocalists, a whole variety of effects including some impressive echoing: it's clear that throughout the 1980's, the Mad Professor acquired more and more devices enabling him to express his talents in an ever-growing way.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - The fifth and last (for now?) episode in the line of DUB compilations by the French Net Label Original Dub Gathering gives us no less than 15 top shots from the DUB Underground. You might not want to miss out this great legal and free album, when you're a DUB connoisseur, that is.

Industrial sounds, dubbed out medieval audio illustrations: the robot in the autumn forest on the cover of this album isn't there just for fun. The music on Step 4 I Part 5 will definitely give you "vibes like that".

It's DUB, DUB and more DUB and the wide variety of styles even within the DUB Underground is versatile enough. After all, it's all in the mix and when it comes to DUB mixing, this album will do just fine. Especially when you're a DUB head with an unquenchable thirst for DUB, DUB and more DUB.

There's funny dub, serious dub, deep dub, militant dub, peaceful dub, and it's all present. Let's hope that the people at the Original Dub Gathering will keep on gathering, for they know how to make their compilations.

After the introduction by Macka B, the 8th chapter in the DUB ME CRAZY series opens up with a very hard hitting steppers riddim.

The tone is set for yet another collection of DUB tracks by one of the masters in the discipline and his mysterious set of effect devices.

Mad Professor is obviously one of the masters. It's not just, that he has a superb sound, it's also that he knows how to literally transform that sound by taking instruments and adding effects. It sounds so easy, but in fact it's not.

DUB engineers play with the dimension called time. Echo's, for example, have their own rhythm and that little piece of knowledge theoretically enables the man behind the mixing board to change the rhythm of a tune.

It needs to be said: for those who are interested in the production of DUB, each and every DUB album by the Mad Professor simply is a Master Class in the Art and that is a thing you definitely feel if you are just interested in enjoying the music.

Too technical? It doesn't matter. After all, the result is what counts.

In this case, the result is a collection of 12 riddims, in various speeds and styles, mixed in a wide variety of styles. Sometimes the mix goes subtle, only to be "disturbed" by a cutting razor style effect. In other instances filters are applied where no engineer dares to apply them.

This Master Class in DUB is definitely not for producer's ears only, it's an experience that will make the heart and soul of every true lover of DUB rejoice 12 more times.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - Another impressive DUB compilation by the French Original DUB Gathering Net Label. Ah, well, let's be more precise: the fourth episode of the Step 4 I series doesn't carry the subtitle "Serious Dub Makers" for nothing.

When you like DUB, especially UK DUB, you will simply not want to miss out on this great compilation. Twelve superb tracks, fitting well together and creating a DUB Vibe that is kind of really crucial. When you're into contemporary electronic DUB, that is.

The versatility of the contemporary DUB producers becomes clear for those with ears to hear: definitely, productions by Serious DUB Makers, as the subtitle of part four in this more than interesting set of DUB compilations by the French Net Label indicates.

Twelve DUB tunes, free and legal, deep and high, a delight for the ear and sweet for the Soul of the DUB connoisseur.

Throughout the 1980's, Mad Professor set the High Standards for DUB with his DUB ME CRAZY series which started in 1982.

In times when the Jamaican studio's lost their interest and turned to Dancehall, Ariwa Sound kept on releasing one massive document of DUB after the other. This is the 7th chapter, catching up with the Mad Professor in 1987.

Mad Professor's first release in the DUB ME CRAZY series already sounded pretty digital. The year was 1982. Now, we're 5 years along the road and the Sound Sampler arrived in the Ariwa Studio's. A thing we'll really know after listening to the adventures of the DUB Sampler.

We hear a fatter sound, and as more and more digital technologies arrive in Mad Professor's studio, we hear a combination of programmed and played material joining perfectly together in what the connoisseur definitely recognizes as the Ariwa Sound.

Fragments of vocals drop in and out as one Roots Reggae Riddim after the other comes into our ear and blesses us once again with what can only be described as another addition to the collection of every self-respecting collector of the better DUB.

Monday, June 8, 2009

WWW, June 2009 - In part three of their excellent line of DUB compilations, the French based Original DUB Gathering goes outernational and gathers ten Ire DUB tunes from the Online DUB Underground.

Opening with an Ire and Upfull track by Online DUB Artist Meef Chaloin, Step 4 I Part Three sets the vibe. It's about Ireness, and Reggae can provide some crucial Ireness. There's not much dubbing going on in that first track, neither in the second track. The music, however is nice and sweet.

The third track brings a sudden change in the atmosphere. A whole host of samples, slowly a rhythm enters, the samples soaked in echo's: you thought there was no DUB going on?

When the DUB Activist meets Dr. TomTom, the DUB goes deeper and the rhythm becomes more energetic. JAH Billah's contribution to this excellent compilation, a collaboration with Ngaumo, brings some more peaceful vibes back in an interesting combination of electronic and analogue effects.

"Back To School" is another piece of Digital DUB Niceness. It's laid-back, has some interesting echoings and effects on the bass, where a rather odd placements of the chords completes the 6th track on the compilation. It's well placed before the explosion of digital sound we find in the tune after that. Which in it's turn is well placed before the energetic steppers by Barbes D and Toko Blaze.

The mix of track number nine, simply entitled "Dub Plate Style", builds up rather slow. The title is well put: you can imagine someone chanting over the riddim. There's not much happening, nice sound though.

In closure of this first full-length compilation album by the Original DUB Gathering Net Label, we find a track by the founders, a French DUB Collective named Ondubground. An upfull Dub with resemblances of the UK DUB act The Disciples here and there.

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